A codename has turned up on Walt Disney Imagineering’s shipping paperwork, and it could belong to the Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Import records show nine shipments of Vekoma coaster parts labeled “Project La Brea” reaching Imagineering since mid-October. Disney hasn’t tied the name to a ride, but the timing, the coaster track already going into Monstropolis, and a new Imagineering permit filed today all point in the same direction.
Vekoma “Project La Brea” Shipments and the Monsters Inc. Door Vault Coaster
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What the Vekoma shipping records show, including the “Project La Brea” codename.
- Why the codename could point to the Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster, and why it might not.
- A new Imagineering set installation permit at Hollywood Studios.
Big rides travel in pieces, and those pieces leave a paper trail through US Customs. We followed that trail back in 2018, when a Vekoma bill of lading pointed to 143,000 pounds of coaster parts headed to EPCOT for what became Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Vekoma has only grown closer to Walt Disney World since then, including opening its Americas headquarters in Orlando in 2025.
What the Shipping Records Show
The records list nine Vekoma shipments to Walt Disney Imagineering between October 16th and November 9th. Each one is tagged “Project La Brea” along with Vekoma project number 61456. Together they weigh roughly 630,000 pounds. The records describe the cargo as amusement ride parts “in knocked down position.” That’s shipping language for a ride sent in pieces to be assembled on site. They’re also filed under the customs code for roller coasters.
The heaviest load arrived on October 23rd at about 141,000 pounds, spread across 22 pieces. November 9th brought the most recent shipment, close to 70,000 pounds packed into six 40-foot open-top containers. Those are built for cargo too tall for a standard box. That load lists Slovakia as its place of receipt, and it came in through the Port of Savannah. Several earlier loads list Morocco as their origin. Imagineering is the consignee at a Lake Buena Vista address, which points to a backstage laydown yard behind EPCOT where we’ve seen the track staged. The shipments come in waves as crews install the ride in segments.
Two more Vekoma shipments from Belgium reached Imagineering on October 21st and November 3rd with no project name attached, so it’s unclear whether they belong to La Brea.
Why La Brea Could Be the Door Vault Coaster
Disney doesn’t usually announce project codenames, and the records don’t name a park or attraction directly. That said, the delivery address is the exact address for the laydown yard where the coaster track is staged ahead of installation. As for the La Brea connection, I’m not sure. There are the La Brea Tar Pits in California. A Universal Television show called La Brea has spacetime portals, which the doors in Monsters Inc. sort of are. If you’ve got a guess, let us know in the comments below or on social media!
Hollywood Studios is home to the biggest coaster build at Walt Disney World right now. Crews have been installing track for the Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster since June, and October aerial photos showed more track and black support columns inside the show building.
One Vekoma project we can rule out is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Vekoma confirmed its role in that refurbishment in August, and the ride reopened with new track back in May.
A New Set Installation Permit at Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney Imagineering recorded a new Notice of Commencement today for an address on South Studio Drive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The permit names Imagineering as the owner and Mecca Productions of Orlando as the contractor. It describes the work as “install set elements” and doesn’t name an attraction.
Mecca is a familiar name on Imagineering set work, including the Indiana Jones ride at Animal Kingdom, Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and the Carousel of Progress reimagining. Monstropolis already had set installation permits for four of its buildings back in April, all with a different contractor. This new filing could be the start of theming work inside the Door Vault coaster building, though Disney hasn’t confirmed that. Its address doesn’t match the one on the shipping records. That’s expected, since the coaster parts head to the laydown yard behind EPCOT before they ever reach the park.
The address on the permit is new and not listed in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District database. Buildings near the Monsters Inc. door vault roller coaster site have numbering that is close to this permit, so we assume it’s for the door coaster. That would be an encouraging sign for progress, but Disney says most of Monstropolis opens in 2027, with the coaster following later.
Keep Reading
- Our latest look at the Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster shows track and support columns inside a show building that’s now getting its walls.
- Vekoma explained how new track and trains brought Big Thunder Mountain Railroad back with a lower height requirement.
- Back in 2018, a Vekoma shipping record gave an early heads-up that Guardians of the Galaxy track was on its way to EPCOT.
- Imagineering’s April set installation permits cover four Monstropolis buildings, from the former PizzeRizzo to the old MuppetVision 3D theater.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
The Monsters Inc roller coaster building looks nothing like the building in the concept art. When are they going to update the concept art to reflect what that building is really going to look like?